Claims Consultant, CLESS (Construction Defect)

Nationwide•King William, VA

5d•$108,000 - $200,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Excess Surplus (E&S) Claims team handles unique and interesting insurance claims, often involving complicated risks and loss history, requiring adaptability and resilience. As a Claims Consultant, you will investigate, evaluate, and resolve complex commercial and professional lines claims and lawsuits, including those with litigation and intricate coverage issues. You will also collaborate with claims divisional managers and directors on training plans and strategies, coach and mentor team members, and build positive relationships with general agencies, internal business partners, major customers, and key individuals. This role is for individuals who love a challenge and possess outstanding organizational, investigative, and communication skills.

Requirements

Undergraduate education in insurance, business, management, or related fields.
Associates must acquire the required federal and/or state licenses/registrations within the time period designated by the business unit.
Proven experience handling higher severity and/or complex claims and litigation required.
Proven experience analyzing and handling complex coverage issues.
Proven knowledge of the best claims practices used to resolve severe claims practices.
Proven analytical skills to make independent decisions and resolve conflict in application of coverage to submitted claims, application of laws of jurisdiction to investigation facts, application of policy exclusions and exceptions.
Must be able to effectively communicate and interact with other claim professionals in a leadership capacity.
Ability to build and maintain open and trusting working relationships with insureds in order to gather pertinent information.
Has the ability to effectively manage conflict and practices active listening.
Ability to work independently and deal with ambiguity.
Ability to present to all levels of management.
Regularly and consistently demonstrates the Nationwide Values.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree preferred.
Additional education in a particular line of business may be required by the hiring business unit.
Additional licenses/registrations may be required when new products and services are implemented.
Completion of insurance courses such as IIA, AEI, or CPCU preferred.
Eight or more years prior insurance experience preferred.
Specific experience in a particular line of business may be required by the hiring business unit.
Confirmed knowledge in a particular line of business and/or additional education may be required by the business unit.
Ability to maintain open and trusting working relationships while teaching, coaching and mentoring other claim professionals in a conscientious and empathetic manner.
Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence.

Responsibilities

Resolves claims and lawsuits of a more severe and complex nature, or from a specialty line or program of significant value to the organization.
Acts as a subject matter authority in a particular line of business or risk.
Identifies technical training needs and develops action plans to meet those needs.
May provide technical consultation/direction to all levels of claim professionals.
Functions as a content specialist to assist in developing training curricula.
Builds and maintains open and trusting working relationships with general agents, producers and key internal business partners.
Evaluates claims, in a timely manner, to identify and manage reserves according to company standards and best reserving practices.
Maintains current knowledge of multiple coverage lines, venue-specific court decisions which may impact the claim function, current guidelines in the claims function and policy changes and modifications.
Reviews and analyzes files to ensure adherence to Division guidelines and best claims handling practices.
Reviews claims quality results to identify coverage trends and to ensure consistency in policy interpretation.
Recommends training or other appropriate action.
Provides consultation/direction to complex claims requiring the highest level of technical skill and expertise.
Ensures appropriate attorney assignments, proper reserving, prompt and accurate reporting to reinsurance carriers, prompt and fair negotiations and adequate trial preparation, if necessary.
Monitors litigation trends and claim handling practices to ensure lawsuits are handled in a consistent fashion.
Maintains trial log for each line of business.
May designs specific reservation of rights templates for use by technical associates across channels.
Approves all reservations of rights, disclaimers, tender/rejection/acceptance letters.
Provides claims handling expertise to new product development.
Provides standardized processes for claims handling related to new products.
May perform other responsibilities as assigned.